What causes someone to repeat words or phrases over and over before they finally finish a sentence?

My husband is a very intelligant man. Works for a major international company, makes a great living and is well liked.
With that said, ever since I have known him (he was 16 when we met and we have been married for 20 years now.) He has a bad habbit of repeating the 1st word of a sentence 2 or 3 times before he continues the sentence. Other times he repeats whole phrases multiple times before finishing a sentence.
It's not like classic studdering though, he gets the whole word or phrase out. He does this more when stressed or tired, but I must admit I get tired of it. I only mention it on occation (maybe one or twice a year. not nagging) when I know he is going to talk to some of his high superiors and ask him to be calm and confident and he usually does a lot better. Sometimes he is aware of this, other times he is not. Anyone out there know of someone with the same issue? He would never in his life go see a specialist for this. Typical stuburn man. Any suggestions?
Answers:
" Palilalia "

http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/2000/10_00/pn_tics.htm He stutters. A lot of people have that problem. It could be a form of stuttering, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or simply that his brain works faster than his mouth (due to his high level of intelligence). Needs more rest. Brain can not function properly when tired. That is a form of stuttering.
When he starts doing this.have him sing what he was going to say. The singing seems to help many who stutter and it can help him retrain himself in times of stress. Helped Mel Tillis!

KaptainK
allthatshopping it sounds like a verbal tic, or a type of hestational pause called, "restarting". you can find more info about the second, here:

http://www.gpwu.ac.jp/~rose/fprc/Definition.htm

it's really quite fascinating, i find. Habit . Not that it's a bad thing . he/she might not say the word correctly and try over and over again or if she/he dont have anything to say the'll repeat the word so it gives them time to think of anther thing t6o say u know waht i mean
DONT CHA or it might be a habit when they were younger It is basically just a bad habit that is hard to break for your husband. Sorry, but only your husband can do something about it. The only suggestion I can give you tell or remind him to relax as you usually do cause that seems to help. I think that is a different kind of statter but take him to a specialist, I know he's stubborn but keep on insisting - you're the woman, we usually do have the power even though they don't want to admit it. If you keep insisting he will finally give in and go see one. My Mom has the same problem, actually she does that when she speaks fast. Speaking consciously and slowly helps. It's stuttering. triggered by stress and nervous system, otherwise known as a tick. There are speach theropist that can help. Also there is a non medicated pill called Calm forte , it's for sleeping, but if you take one it just calms you down, with out sleeping. Found at walmart This is a common occurrence in OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Howard Hughes had it, I forget what it's called, but basically their brain gets 'stuck' on a word or sentence and they have to keep pronouncing it until it 'feels right'.
Usually people with OCD or traits of it realize that it doesn't really make sense, but they still have to do it.
OCD has NOTHING to do with how smart a person is, lots of smart people have it. It's common.
I'd do some research on it, and see if any other symptoms fit. Your husband may realize he's acting odd but be terrified of trying to change it. The anxiety of not performing the 'compulsions' can be great.

A simple pill could help, and as for being a 'stubborn' man - simply tell him to tell the specialist that his wife badgered him into it and 'the damn woman wouldn't leave him alone until he did it'!
haha Actually I have the same problem some times. trust me he is aware of it.
it's not that his brain is moving faster than his mouth but that his mouth is moving faster than his brain. probably he gets an idea and out of excitement or nervousness he starts to articulate his thoughts before he has had time to completely collect them into a logical form. so his mouth makes up for this by repeating the word or phrase until his mind finishes processing the data and transfers it to the correct area of his brain where it is translated into a form that can be articulated correctly and sent to the motor contral center of the brain. simple bit of data-lag. like trying to play a CD from one side before you've completely finished writing it from the other side.

al he has to do is calm down and speak slowly after formulating his thoughts. and if he gets ahead of him self he could just pause insead of continuing. It’s actually not stuttering, it’s called disfluency and it’s common in children and rare in adults.

A person that stutters will repeat parts of words, either sounds or syllables ("t-t-table", "ta-ta-ta-table"); prolongs a sound ("sssun"); or breaks up words ("cow & boy"). They often repeat part of the word at least 3 times ("ta-ta-ta-table). During repetitions, they may substitute an "uh" vowel for the vowel in the word ("tuh-tuh-tuh-table"). According to recent clinical reports, they may use a broken rhythm during repetitions ("b.b& & b..boy"). They may open their mouth to speak but no sound comes out or turns off the voice between sound repetitions.

Disfluency is characterized by someone who often repeats whole words or phrases such as ("I-I-I want to want to go home"), ("You-you-you") or ("I see—I see—I see"). They typically repeat parts of the word no more than 1 or 2 times ("ta-table"). During repetitions, they use the vowel sound normally found in the word ("ta-table"). They Have rhythmic repetitions ("b ..b ..boy") and start speech easily; keeps speech going even though may repeat a phrase or word later in the sentence.

Therapy for teens and adults usually means changing long-standing speech behaviors, emotions, and attitudes about talking and communication in general. As a result, length and type of therapy can vary greatly depending on your/his goals. A list of sample therapy goals for teens and adults includes:
•Reducing the frequency of disfluency;
•Decreasing the tension and struggle;
•Working to decrease word or situation avoidances;
•Learning more about disfluency;
•Using effective communication skills such as eye contact or phrasing; and,
•Determining whether goals relate to long-term change or to meet a specific short-term need, such as a job interview.

Working together with a speech pathologist who is knowledgeable about this will help you identify your personal goals.
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